BY capturing the ONE Women’s Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship, Filipina-American striking star Jackie Buntan can now say she’s already reached the pinnacle of her athletic career.
But she has no plans of stopping there as she has the next goal in her sights – the Muay Thai World Title.
“I’m guilty of dreaming and hoping for one thing, and then it comes to fruition, and then quickly I’m like, ‘What’s next?’ I kind of felt that way after winning the kickboxing belt, but I had to take a step back and give myself the flowers and enjoy this time and all the work I put into it,” Buntan said.
“But I’m at that point now like, ‘What’s next and how can I top this and keep topping that?’ Right now, I think the Muay Thai title makes sense.”
Buntan actually had the chance to win the Muay Thai belt back in 2022 when she faced Smilla Sundell for the inaugural ONE Women’s Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship but ultimately fell to the prodigious Swiss fighter after five rounds.
And because of the talent in strawweight Muay Thai now, Buntan knows it makes sense for her to move between two disciplines.
“I feel like I probably have more options in Muay Thai. There weren’t any kickboxing fights happening in the strawweight division before me and Anissa, and that was straight for the belt,” Buntan said.
“Whereas in Muay Thai, I feel there’s a lot more women to pick from. It’s vacant, so I’d love to get that.”
At the end of the day, whether it’s ruling over the strawweight kickboxing division, or getting another crown jewel by winning the Muay Thai belt, it’s all about chasing greatness for Buntan.
And she’s going to pursue it for as long as she’s able to do so.
“It’s corny and cliche, but greatness is what inspires me. I think every athlete will probably tell you that or admit to that,” she said.
“When you do something for so long and you’re doing it at the highest level, you’re only doing it to achieve peak greatness, and that’s what I want.”
